Owners of large dogs are being asked to support a blood donation session taking place next month at a veterinary centre in Mapperley.
A team from charity Pet Blood Bank will be hosting the all-day blood donation session at the Oak House Veternary Cente in Mapperley on Saturday, December 17
They hope to receive donations from dogs which will be used by veterinary surgeons across the UK to help them save the lives of sick and injured dogs.
With more than 1,000 dogs requiring a blood transfusion during 2015, Pet Blood Bank UK provides a 24/7 canine blood bank service for veterinary practitioners across the UK.
Blood collected during donation sessions is taken to its state-of-the-art processing centre in Loughborough where it is separated into red blood cells and plasma products and then stored ready for dispatch.
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Each unit of blood collected can potentially save the lives of four dogs but it is constantly in need of supplies to keep up with a growing need.
The donation session is being hosted by Jill Mellink-Davidson, vet at Oak House Veterinary Centre.
She said: “In the course of my work, I’ve had to call on blood supplies from Pet Blood Bank UK on several occasions – as have my colleagues – and we know the vital difference it can make to the outcome of our patients.
“We are holding a donation session as we want to help the charity help save the lives of many dogs across the country.”
She added: “To be a suitable donor, dogs must weigh more than 25kg, be in good health and aged between one and eight years old.
“Giving a donation doesn’t take long – we recommend that owners allow 40 minutes for their appointment, of which the dog will spend ten minutes giving the actual donation.
“The important point to note is that, before their dog can donate, owners need to visit the Pet Blood Bank UK website at www.petbloodbankuk.org to register their dog as a potential donor. It’s a simple process and then they will be all set.”
Oak House Veterinary Centre is based at 333 Plains Road, Mapperley, and can be contacted on 0115 966 7920.
